Type-writer-key cushion



mmm R. s. GRAHAM su W. B. SAVBLL.

TYPE WRITE-'R KEY CUSHION. No. 532,153. Patented Jan'. 8", 1895.

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UNITED STATES TYPE-WRITER- SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,153, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed March 14, 1894. Serial No. 503,637. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT S. GRAHAM and WILLIAM B. SAVELL, citizens of the United States, and residents of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-VVriter-Key Cushions, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to keys or elastic cushions adapted to be fitted to the keys of type writing machines, cash registers and other mechanisms on which keys are to be employed, which are to be rapidly and often struck by the fingers; the object being to relieve the fingers of the operator from soreness, caused by striking the unyielding surfaces of ordinary keys.

Our invention consists in a socket adapted to fit over the ordinary key, which socket is connected with an upper surface to receive the stroke of the finger, which upper surface is yieldingly supported by an elastic member interposed between it and the 'top of the key, and guided vertically by an upward prolongation ofthe socket.

This invention may be applied in various forms, of which several modifications are shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, each of which shows a vertical section through the key and cushion of a separate modification. f

Similar letters in each ligure denote corresponding parts.

a is the ordinarytypewriter key.

bis a cylinder open at Vthe bottom. That part of which below the line a: in each 'figure constitutes the socket receiving the key. This `socket we prefer to provide with a lug or projection, as c, turned under the key-head to prevent the socket from slipping off upward.

The top opening of the cylinder b is closed by a plate d which, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is formed in one piece with the cylinder, but in Figs. 4t and 5 constitutes a disk separate from the cylinder and held within it by the overlapping iange e.

The cylinder b is longer than the key-head a and therefore, a space exists between the top side of the key-head and the under side of the plate CZ.

PATENT OEEICE.

ROBERT' S. GRAHAM AND WILLIAM B. SAVELL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

KEY CUSHION.

various equivalent forms of construction.

Thus, in Fig. 1, it consists of the helical spring f which, at the top, rests directly against the under side of the plate d 'and at the bottom rests directly against the top of the key-head,

In Fig. 2, it consists of a similar helical spring f which, however, is at the bottom separated from the top of the key-head by a disk g loose within the cylinder b. As the heads of type writing machine keys differ somewhat in shape, some being ilat on top and others hollowed out or dished, the-cushions will be constructed to meet such variations. .When the key head is hollowed out, as in Fig.- 2 it will be advisable to use the disk g as the same forms a better seat for the spring than would the hollowed out surface of the key-head. In Figs. 4 and 5 the elastic or resilient inember consists of a similar helical springf rest- `ing against the key-head at its bottom, but

the plate d instead of being in one piece with the cylinder b so as to compel the two to move together, is separate from the cylinder b and may move within the same; the cylinder b serving to guide it and maintain it in its normall position. In this case, the internal diameter of cylinder b abovethe key-head need notbe as great in diameter as the portion of cylinder b forming the socket for the keyhead. It may be as shown in Fig. 5.

In Eig. 3, the resilient member consists of a filling of hair or analogous elastic material il between the plate d and the key-head a.

It will be observed that in each of the forms shown, the part b performs the function of a cylinder or guide within which the plate el and the key-head o. may approach each other in antagonism to the elastic member and recede from each other in obedience to the elastic member.

In the case of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the key-head a is like a stationary piston within the mov- IOO ing cylinder b; Whereas, in Figs. 4 and 5, the relatively under the impulse of the touch and v plate d is likea moving piston within the sta-V the resilient member, as set forth.

tionary cylinder b. Signed at New York, in the county of New We claim- York and State of New York, this 2d day of 5 A key cushion adapted to be fitted over a March, A. D. 1894.

key and consisting of a cylinder b, the touch ROBERT S. GRAHAM. plate d and the resilient member arranged WILLIAM B. SAVELL. substantially as described, whereby the cyl- Witnesses: inder b acts as a guiding cylinder within J. E. GREER,

1o which the plate and the key may reciprocate FRED S. KEMPER. 

